PuLiRuLa

PuLiRuLa

Overview & History

Developed and published by Taito in 1991, PuLiRuLa is a wildly surreal arcade beat-'em-up that stands apart through its bizarre, dreamlike aesthetic. Set in the mystical, pastel-hued dimension of Radish Land, the storyline follows two magical children, Zac and Mell, who must rescue the realm's stolen time-keeping clocks from a tyrannical ruler named Jack. Taito utilized a custom arcade board to render its whimsical, hand-drawn graphics, blending cute character designs with unsettling, surreal imagery like melting alarm clocks and sentient teapots. Despite its adorable exterior, the game delivers a surprisingly challenging cooperative side-scrolling brawl. Over the years, PuLiRuLa has achieved cult classic status, spawning home ports for the FM Towns Marty and Sony PlayStation, though the original arcade version remains the definitive way to experience its eccentric psychedelic charm.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Unlike traditional brawlers that rely on punches and kicks, Zac and Mell wield mystical magical wands. The core mechanics center around these wands, which transform standard enemy encounters into slapstick comedy; striking foes morphs them into bizarre objects like flying carpets or whimpering animals before they vanish. Players navigate vertically scrolling stages divided into bizarre zones, collecting floating power-ups to enhance their magical range and durability. A screen-clearing magical spell can be triggered by gathering specific items, unleashing chaotic screen-filling animations that decimate bosses. The game supports two-player simultaneous cooperative play, amplifying the chaotic visual feast. Its combination of whimsical fairy-tale art direction, bizarre enemy transformations, and eccentric sound design makes every level feel like an interactive fever dream.

Keyboard Controls

• Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Move
• Action Keys: Attack / Jump
• Enter: Start / Pause